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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 2017 Full Solar Eclipse, telescopes, and photography | |
Eye safety is critically important for viewing and photographing the eclipse. You should check out a modern resource from a web site or book to learn what you need to know, and make sure to help others you know or meet to stay safe. Those younger people in this world with a bit less judgment available are especially in need of education and supervision. For direct viewing without a telescope or camera, low cost solar glasses are available, any you should plan on everyone in your group having a pair, plus have some spares available for loss or last minute gifting to those that need them.
For any long lens or telescope photography or viewing, you MUST use a proper solar filter at the front of your lens, unless you are using one of several specialized astronomy methods that provide safety. A true solar filter provides the correct extreme density to bring the light level down, and also has proper protection for UV wavelengths, which is a very important factor. UV from the Sun can permanently damage your eyes when using any magnified device, and you likely would not even feel it happening. Us photographers love our eyesight, right?
Other forms of filtering besides a true solar filter are not safe. Photographic ND filters, even if stacked to get the right optical ND level, are not safe. Most will pass too much UV, and they also can potentially fail from overheating while in use. Other various filter methods that have been publicized in the past are mostly un safe, and the few that might be safe are very difficult to know in advance if they really are. Get a true solar filter from a reputable source.
Note that you will likely want the ability to quickly remove the solar filter for photography during the total phase of the eclipse, and replace it at the end of totality. A screw in filter will not work well for quick removal, but is of course fine for all the partial phases. Some form of slip on filter is well worth considering, and most solar filters are available with that feature. Just make sure you purchase ones that are going to fit on the lenses or devices you plan to use, and then properly fit the filter to have it stay on well, but still allow easy removal. And another thing to consider is to not wait until the last minute to purchase a solar filter, because they will likely be all out of stock in the last weeks or months before the eclipse.
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